Facebook, Diigo, iGoogle, etc. These were all things I thought I understood. After the first class I realized that there was so much more to these tools that I was only touching the surface. Futhermore, these tools are among hundreds even thousands of resources that anyone can use. So what is a PLN? To me, a PLN (Personal Learning Network) is my personal assistant.It's there when I need it, helps me solve problems, allows me to vent, and connects me to the right people. What's even better is that this personal assistant is free (for the most part, depending on the tools you use). Being connected to the world is the most powerful tool any person can have. I can get information from experts or just people who want to give their two cents. Either way, I'm getting help from people who WANT to help.
From my experience on Twitter, the people who respond to you care about what you say. You get the information from sources and people that you choose to hear from. That is one aspect I find very valuable in regards to my PLN. Participating in online discussions have made me think about my philosophies and become more confident in my beliefs. The discussions and information that I've gained has opened my mind to new perceptions from people who are like me and people who are different than me. I believe that some of the most powerful learning for an individual takes place when being challenged and being connected to so many different people allows for this to happen.
Because a PLN is personal, it can be academic, just for entertainment, or both, which makes life easier for me when I can combine the two. No matter where I am I can access the tools I need and the information comes to me as often as I want it to.Less time is spent searching for great ideas and more time is spent exploring the ideas I get from others. The part of teaching I love the most is the collaboration with colleagues and now I get to have that in and outside of my school through my PLN.
Through all of my frustrations as a teacher and the endless amount of responsibilities beyond the "actually" teaching, I have found my PLN useful with my current search to be happier. I understand the amount of time and stress searching for and developing new lesson ideas causes and so I am happy to say I want to be a part of other people's PLNs on a larger scale. I want to be the one that delivers the ideas to you, communicates your needs to companies, and motivates you to grow as a professional. Using the information that has come to me and finding more time to explore my passion in educational technology, I have decided to try something new in my life and take a different job. Developing my PLN has helped me find this path and I am confident these resources will help me grow in my new career as a voice for teachers in this constantly changing world where we could all use some assistance.
Facebook, Diigo, iGoogle, etc. These were all things I thought I understood. After the first class I realized that there was so much more to these tools that I was only touching the surface. Futhermore, these tools are among hundreds even thousands of resources that anyone can use. So what is a PLN? To me, a PLN (Personal Learning Network) is my personal assistant. It's there when I need it, helps me solve problems, allows me to vent, and connects me to the right people. What's even better is that this personal assistant is free (for the most part, depending on the tools you use). Being connected to the world is the most powerful tool any person can have. I can get information from experts or just people who want to give their two cents. Either way, I'm getting help from people who WANT to help.
From my experience on Twitter, the people who respond to you care about what you say. You get the information from sources and people that you choose to hear from. That is one aspect I find very valuable in regards to my PLN. Participating in online discussions have made me think about my philosophies and become more confident in my beliefs. The discussions and information that I've gained has opened my mind to new perceptions from people who are like me and people who are different than me. I believe that some of the most powerful learning for an individual takes place when being challenged and being connected to so many different people allows for this to happen.
Because a PLN is personal, it can be academic, just for entertainment, or both, which makes life easier for me when I can combine the two. No matter where I am I can access the tools I need and the information comes to me as often as I want it to. Less time is spent searching for great ideas and more time is spent exploring the ideas I get from others. The part of teaching I love the most is the collaboration with colleagues and now I get to have that in and outside of my school through my PLN.
Through all of my frustrations as a teacher and the endless amount of responsibilities beyond the "actually" teaching, I have found my PLN useful with my current search to be happier. I understand the amount of time and stress searching for and developing new lesson ideas causes and so I am happy to say I want to be a part of other people's PLNs on a larger scale. I want to be the one that delivers the ideas to you, communicates your needs to companies, and motivates you to grow as a professional. Using the information that has come to me and finding more time to explore my passion in educational technology, I have decided to try something new in my life and take a different job. Developing my PLN has helped me find this path and I am confident these resources will help me grow in my new career as a voice for teachers in this constantly changing world where we could all use some assistance.